Midnight Showdown in Borno: OPHK Troops Repel ISWAP Attack, Kill 16 in Fierce Counter-Offensive
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have repelled a midnight attack by ISWAP terrorists and launched a decisive counter-offensive that neutralised 16 insurgents, disrupted their logistics network and rescued multiple kidnap victims in Borno State.
In a press statement issued on 10 February 2026 by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the military disclosed that the terrorists attempted to overrun the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Auno late on 5 February 2026.
The statement said troops of Sector 1 swiftly thwarted the assault with disciplined firepower and tactical precision, forcing the attackers to retreat.
Capitalising on the failed attack, troops, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), launched a follow-on counter-offensive on 9 February 2026 along the Komala axis in Konduga Local Government Area.
The forces pursued the retreating terrorists up to the Gidan Kaji axis, where 16 insurgents were neutralised, while several others reportedly fled with severe injuries.
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During the operation, troops recovered more than 20 bicycles, a large cache of logistics items, weapons and other supplies considered critical to terrorist operations.
In a related development the same day, troops arrested suspected ISWAP logistics suppliers along the Bukarti axis while they were allegedly conveying a large quantity of drugs intended for the terrorists.
The statement further disclosed that troops foiled a kidnap attempt along the Buratai–Kamuya road. Upon detecting suspicious terrorist activity, soldiers swiftly pursued the criminals, compelling them to abandon their victims and retreat into nearby bushes.
Two victims, identified as Mallam Idris Adamu and Mallam Muhammadu Safiyanu, were rescued and safely reunited with their families in Buratai.
In a separate incident along the Chibok–Damboa axis on 9 February 2026, troops responded to a distress call and successfully rescued nine kidnapped victims.
The Joint Task Force stated that the operations underscore OPHK’s sustained commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, degrading their operational capabilities and protecting civilian populations across the North East.
Military authorities reaffirmed that troops will continue to maintain offensive momentum to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.